SCHOOL CLOSURE On Wednesday, Superintendent Dorsey Hopson presented his recommendations to begin “right-sizing” Shelby County Schools, impacting 13 schools and up to 4,600 students. Chalkbeat, The Commercial Appeal

REVOKING CHARTERS Criticized for how they closed troubled charter schools, Memphis leaders have a new plan. Chalkbeat

PRE-K PAYOFF North Carolina just countered Tennessee’s findings on pre-K fadeout. Here’s the difference, according to researchers. Chalkbeat

VOUCHERS How will Trump’s election impact the push for private school vouchers in Tennessee? The Tennessean

NIGHTMARES Parents and school counselors in Nashville grapple with comforting students scared of deportation in the wake of the election. The Tennessean

FIRES East Tennessee schools take precautions to keep students healthy and safe during massive forest fires filling the region with smoke. WBIR

Other East Tennessee schools have been forced to close because of smoke. ABC

VISITORS More than 90 Knox County business leaders and community members are serving as principals-for-a-day. WVLT

ENDOWMENT Belmont University receives a $4 million grant to support Metro Nashville Public School students. The Nashville Post

BULLYING ON THE RISE Since the presidential election, the Southern Poverty Law Center has received hundreds of reports of harassment, bullying and racist displays across the U.S., including in schools. The New York Times